Science has indeed proven that boys and girls look for one particular trait in their partners. Do you have this trait? Apparently, based on a research by scientists from the University of Zurich, one trait that is important to both sexes is playfulness.
The researchers discovered that playfulness has hit the top list of desirable attitudes in a long-term partner. They asked 327 young adults to look at a list of 16 characteristics and asked them if what trait they are looking for in their future long-term partner. Sixty-two percent were single while 38 percent were in a relationship.
The study, which was published in the American Journal of Play, regardless of gender, they deem it desirable if their partner is playful. Accordingly, playfulness entails adventure and fun. Medical News Today described it as paralleled to the Peter Pan Syndrome wherein people with the body of an adult have the mind of a child.
The researchers, Rene T. Proyer and Lisa Wagner from the Department of Psychology at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, wanted to know the role of playfulness in intimate relationships. They based it in the adult playfulness theory by Garry Chick of the Penn State professor and head of the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management.
Their findings show that friendliness, intelligence, humor and a fun tendency were among the top desired traits they looked for in a partner while playfulness ranked behind the favorites for both genders.
"Therefore, this personality trait also seems important for the choice of partner - at least more so than the partner having a degree, good genes or being religious," said Proyer in the press release.
"Although we should be cautious while interpreting the data, this could be an indication that playful people are actually perceived as more attractive partners or that playfulness increasingly develops in the relationship," Proyer added.